New-York tribune., 1887-04-23
FIGHTING TO GET ACHARTER
THE MoNTAUK DISTRICTS STRUGGLE.

WILL DISTRICT NO. 81 AND OTHERS GET INTO
TROUBLE BY GIVING A HELPING HANDf
The Montauk District OF the Knights of Labor
which has been thorn in the side of District
Assembly No. 40, and the General Executive Board
for the last two years, has decided that it is I'M
possible for it to get its charter by persuasion
by peaceable means, and it has therefore resolved
to begin to fight again.
The story Of their struggle for charter is I'M.
teresting In May, 1885. six local assemblies on
Long Island asked No. 40, to which they were
attached, to grent them district charter After
q hot debate the Home Club clement in No. 40,
which was opposed to granting the charter, was
successful, and the request was defeated by
majority Of two. In the following October an
appeal was made to the General Assembly in
Hamilton, Ontario, and was referred TO a special
committee. The 40 influence dominated the com.
mittee and the matter was referred back to that
district. 1t has rested In the hands of the dis.
trlct committee the State Of the Order ever
since. Between that time and the extra sessioB
OF the General Assembly the Brooklyn locals
were subjected to numerous petty prosecutions
and one of them, No 1862, the Oldest Knight OF
Labor organization in this region, was kept in 0
constant state OF suspension.
At Cleveland committee was sent by the
Brooklyn locals to try TO get charter by
dispensation. The matter referred 10 the
Committee on Grievances, and was reported IA
vorably and by unanimous vote of the General
Assembly charter was granted when the Brook.
lyn people had squared up with No. 40. The dele
gates came home jubilant, squared their accounts
with No. 40, formed temporary organization
and forwarded their application for the charter
with the receipts to General Secretary Treasurer
Turner. In the course Of a month they were in
formed that the General Executive Board OF
which James Il. Quinn was an advisory member,
had decided that the act ion taken at Cleveland
was unconstitutional, and that the charter would
not be granted.
Then it was decided that the MonaulS district
should work outside Of the order until they re-
ceived charter. In October, 1886, they elected
delegates to the Richmond General Assembly.
Their credentials were referred TO the Comittee
on Credentials, Of which James f.. Quinn was the
ruling spirit. John Devlin, Of Michigan, was the
only friend that the Montauk's had on the COM
mttee. He asked Quinn il they had complied
with the orders OF the General Executive Board,
and answered afrmatively.
Then why in Heavens NAME, he asked, "dont
you give them their charter?'
Quinn simply shrugged his shoulders. The
delegates were not admitted and Oh their return
the big meeting at the Brooklyn Academy
Of Music, at which Mr.. Powderly and the General
Executive Board were denounced, was held.
committee was then appointed to visit Phladel-
pha. Mr.. Powdcrly was seen, but claimed that
the action in Cleveland was unconstitutional, and
the committee got no satisfaction Despite their
fight with 49, when that district ordered the
sympathetic" STRIKE the Brooklyn 1oneshore-
men attached to the Montaulx came out. Assist.
ance was refused by No. az, and their own dis
trct has had to look out for them. The eight
locals attached to the MontaulS district have
paid their per capita tax to the Gene al Executive
Board regularly, and it was received.
A few weeks ago it was decided to adopt DIFF.
fercnt tactics, and communication was sent to
District Assembly No. ga tprinters and affiliated
tradcs) asking that district to Use its influence in
getting the charter by appealing to the Genera
Executive Board and sister districts in the vlcinl
ty. On March the matter was brought up il
No 81, and the following resolutions were unani
mously adoptedi
Wnereq The special session o, the General assembly held
in Cleveland unanimously ordered that district charter
gIRts1 @ Ne ers a act o: the session. to have
date that emsnated from tna, body: and
a.% assembly, t6e itr%SssSt
order at large by reason resulting
lat9n the law by the s % Shcs ss sa Of e General
Assembly. body the consttuonay Of whose every set
ruling out o. order the groana o.
enforce the legislation enacted at Cleveland in this respect
ResoIrsd That District Assembly No "a positively de-
In tS RSs & a ST the s anG spirit Of
the resolution in question passed by me Cleveland General
ehsrer yr ann * S~is Gtrict ASSEMBLY,
Resc,d That these resolutions be submitted to as many
othor district assemblies as pos Oe with request from DIS
Assembly GA that they be approved ami the seals Oh tho
district assemblies attached TO the same.
Rsyd That before Ap copy 81 these rssSSGS S5 sa
warded TO the General Executive Board NV
Ep. MULFoED. D. H. :.
committee was appointed to take the matter
to other districts, and the resolutions were ap-
proved by District Assembly 81 OF Newark, 30
of New-Yorll, so of Denver, 0l of NewYoik, 81
OF Washington, 100 of indianapolis, l22 of Eliza
beth. l26 National Carpet Makers, and the state
Assembly of Arkansas. On April a committee
consisting of George +. Murray and Edward Null
ford went to Philadelphia with the resolutions
and appeal. They were told that the GenerM
Executive Board was busy with another commit
tee and could not see them and that they had
better go home. They did not 30 home, but met
the board the next morning
As soon as the resolutions were presented Mcssrs.
Mcguire and Powderly bean bitter attack on
No. Ga, accusing them OF violating the law pdsseo
at Cleveland prohibiting local assemblies from
sending communicat ions through the order with
out the permission of the Gcnclal Executive
Board. Mr. Powderly threatened TO suspend No.
GA for this alleged violation OF The law. Mr.
Murray pointed out the fact that the law In ques-
tion only referred to local assemblies, and the
t;cnerol Master Workman showed him n copy OF
[ he proceedings OF the Cleveland convention with
the words "and district intclpolated aiter inc
word "loralr This insertion, IL Is claimed, was
made for the express purpose OF covering THIS
ease The committee went away with promise
that the General Executive Board would give
decision in the case way or another withiD
ten DAYS As yet not word has been heard. The
Montaull people have decided under the cllenm-
stances DO make their fight for justice publicly.
One of their members said yesterday;
wehave organized six local assemblies and yen mem pro-
ylsonal charters will keep lighting tor our ehaer
until the General Assembly III Minneapolis eelns la me
time will when will get Justice Inc Home Ciu" VIII
not always control the order.
The members of No. Ga do not appear TO De
much fri. htened at the threat of suspension The
districts which have approved of Their course
and whose seals are attached to The docnnehe
m y,hich tbcv viii be SUSPENDED, number about
| 90 600 men, or nearly 10 per cent OF the oruer'
and if No "a is suspended all these VIII have to
be driven out Of the order